Over two months after Houston city officials agreed to an assessment of BARC (Bureau of Animal Regulation and Care), the contract has yet to be executed.  City officials cannot provide a date in which the contract will be executed.  Meanwhile, 30,000 animals per year continue to be killed at BARC which could otherwise be saved and adopted into homes.

 In October 2008, City of Houston officials agreed to hire Nathan Winograd, the leading expert in No Kill sheltering to assess BARC, the City’s high kill, animal control facility.  However, over 2 months have passed and the assessment contract has not been executed by the City, even though Houstonians donated funds to pay Mr. Winograd’s fee.  Additionally, City officials have not agreed to hire Mr. Winograd to recruit the new Bureau Chief for BARC which is the most important factor in reducing the kill rate there.

 Further, in the past few weeks, the interim Bureau Chief has enacted several interim procedures which make it increasingly difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get adoptable animals out of BARC alive.

 It has been proven by pioneering shelter directors all over the country that, by following Nathan Winograd’s “No Kill Equation”, high kill shelters can be transformed into No Kill shelters.  Citizens have demanded, and paid for, this service at BARC.

Jack Byrnes would be proud. The uptight character played by Robert De Niro in Meet The Parents made us laugh at the very idea of toilet training his cat, Mr. Jinx. In one comedic turn, Byrnes popularized something all cat lovers universally wish they could do: rescue their furry friends from the evils of litter -  the odor, the clean up, the cost. Now, a quirky new gift book arrives in stores to offer felines a nine-step program for leaving litter behind.

 Combining ironic humor with an utterly practical guide, ‘KiCK LiTTER: Nine-Step Program for Recovering Litter Addicts’ (November 2008, CDA Press) follows the adventures of two cats, Moxie and Cooper (and the big guy who feeds them), taking their message of recovery from litter addiction to the masses.

 Conceived and written by Hollywood web designer (and reluctant cat whisperer) Perre DiCarlo and lushly designed and packaged by the prestigious San Francisco firm Chen Design Associates, ‘KiCK LiTTER’ (KickLitter.com) is sure to be the must-have book for any cat and humor lover this holiday season.

KiCK LiTTER is available in a bookstore near you!

“Litter addiction brought Moxie and Cooper’s lives to a standstill,” says DiCarlo whose two cats (the stars of the book) kicked the habit four years ago. “In retrospect, the tell-tale signs were obvious: cats lying around all day, lack of motivation, guilty binge visits to the litter box. When Cooper snuck in one morning after an all-night bender, I knew it was time to stage an intervention.”

‘KiCK LiTTER: Nine-Step Program for Recovering Litter Addicts’ will be in bookstores everywhere beginning November 11, 2008.

By Connie Archer, Bark Busters Home Dog Training “Trainer”

Devil Dog

Many of us consider our dogs to be members of our family.  In many ways, they are.  We form a special bond with dogs that few other animals share.  Given this special status, as family member and companion, we naturally start to look at our furry friends through “people-colored” glasses. This is where problems begin.

Often dog owners forego training because they don’t like the way they think the training makes their dog feel, or they feel guilty for setting rules and not letting their dog “be a dog.”  This humanizing of a dog’s behavior leads to faulty judgments about what dogs understand, what they need, and what is best for the dog. Dogs simply do not think like people.  Dogs are guided by principles of pack law, and they expect their leader to act in a certain way. 

Misunderstanding of pack law is often the cause of behavior problems.  Dogs instinctually crave leadership and are keenly attuned to the discipline associated with it. However, if dogs don’t sense leadership from owners, their primordial drive compels them to try to take charge, which can lead to behavior issues, such as barking, pulling on the leash, jumping or even worse behaviors.

Learning how to communicate leadership in a way a dog understands is key. Case in point:  My two dogs, Abby, a 13-year-old female; and Bailey, a three-year-old female, both have dominant personalities, but there is no doubt who is higher in the pack.  Abby makes sure of that by deciding when it is time to play and who gets what toys or which bed.  At times, to demonstrate her leadership, Abby simply ignores Bailey – and if the over-active young one crosses the line (tests the rules), Abby enforces her rules with calm, modeled consistency. Her leadership in this relationship is 100 percent consistent.  

The lesson for dog owners is to take control by communicating leadership – and do so consistently. There is no reason for your dog to lead you on walks, cut you off on the stairs, run first through open doorways, jump on visitors, or bark every time the doorbell rings or a child walks by your house.  Typically, these are things dog do when they think they are in charge.  And for those that shudder at the thought of ever ignoring their dog’s nudges to be petted (as a demonstration of leadership), remember, this is an important lesson for your dog to understand its pack structure, thus providing the a safe and stress-free environment it needs.

Discipline and leadership do not require force and are not enemies of fun. And in no way should training a dog inhibit its playfulness or spontaneity.  But that doesn’t mean there should be no rules for inappropriate behavior. In fact, providing your dog with consistent leadership and ground rules for behavior will make it feel more secure and relaxed and make for a more self-assured companion. Remember, dogs are pack animals, and in a pack, rules and hierarchy are the cornerstones of a happy, secure, and stable family. 

Connie Archer is a trainer with Bark Busters Home Dog Training. She can be reached at 1-877-500-2275 (BARK) or visit www.barkbusters.com.

The first one is the Snapshots calendar.  All the proceeds from this trendy, chic calendar benefit SNAP (Spay-Neuter Assistance Program) and their mission to prevent the suffering of cats and dogs due to overpopulation, especially in low-income areas.  The calendar was created by dog advocate photographer, Brett Chisholm who partnered up with Project Runway winner, Chloe Dao.  I may be a teeny bit partial to this calendar, as I was lucky enough to be a participant in this project.  A couple of beautiful pit bulls and I are proud to represent the month of January!  Cool fashion and cool dogs. All for a super cool cause.  Order yours here!

The second one is just for fun as it appeals to the silly Chihuahua lover in me.  I met the photographer, Juan Maldanado, at a doggie Halloween party where they were also selling the calendar, Ay Chihuahua!  The model, El Guero is so super cute, and obviously born to be in pictures! Check it out here.

Happy New Year!

“Dogs never talk about themselves but listen to you while you talk about yourself, and keep up an appearance of being interested in the conversation.”

~Jerome K. Jerome

Stephanie Bennett

Certified Canine Trainer & Behavior Specialist

Professional Dog Training in Houston, TX

GetAlongLittleDoggie.net

323-573-0727

]]> http://www.houstonpettalk.com/2008/12/2009-calendars/feed/ http://www.houstonpettalk.com/2008/12/highland-village-adoption-event-extended/ http://www.houstonpettalk.com/2008/12/highland-village-adoption-event-extended/#comments Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:49:58 +0000 mmantor http://www.houstonpettalk.com/?p=760 As the Highland Village Holiday Adoption Event wrapped up on Sunday, the organizers were happy to announce that approximately 120 of our four-legged friends found homes in the two weekends the event took place!

The turn-out of supporters, volunteers, visitors and adopters was great during this busy time of year. There were many barks, smiles, jumps and kisses as signs of gratitude.
 
Due to the success of the adoption event, Highland Village is allowing the event to continue with weekend adoption events!  Be sure to stop by and see the cats and dogs in need of a home from 11-4 both Saturday and Sunday at 4056 Westheimer.

by Helen Stroud, Proprietress of OLIVINE in Uptown Park

 A dog’s sense of smell is by far their most highly developed sense. The average dog can sense odors at concentrations nearly 100 million times lower than humans. For instance, a dog is able to smell one drop of blood in five quarts of water! This is because dogs have more than 100 million olfactory receptors in their noses compared to humans having only 5 million.

 Dogs have long made significant contributions to public health as police dogs, assistance dogs, therapy dogs and even as family pets. They can be trained to sniff out explosives and drugs, track criminals and find missing children. Dogs are used to warn their owners about such things as upcoming epileptic seizures, low blood sugar and heart attacks.

 Recent scientific evidence shows that dogs can be trained to detect both early and late stages of breast and lung cancers. Their extraordinary scenting ability has also been used to detect both melanoma and bladder cancers. During one scientific study, the dogs detected the diseases with an accuracy rate of 88% and 97%, even at the very earliest stages of the cancers.

 Dogs have this ability because they can smell multiple layers of chemicals. Therefore, we should be mindful of the scents and household cleaners we use in our homes; what smells good to us could be overwhelming or even toxic to our pets. Many animals have been sickened and even died as a result of their owner’s cleaning products.

 The best products to use around our furry companions also happen to be the best products to use for our own physical health. My favorite brands use essential oils in their formulas, such as Good Home, Mrs. Meyers and Method.

 Please be careful when burning candles as well. Many candles are overly fragranced with synthetic scents and have lead wicks, adding insult to injury. There are natural odor-neutralizers available at pet stores that are not toxic and will make even the most sensitive noses happy.

 Bathing and grooming your four-legged family members go a long way towards contributing to a pleasantly fragranced home. At OLIVINE, we have a new product that has become my favorite – Fur Moringa Seed and Calendula Cleanser and Fur leave-in conditioner. They are formulated with botanical extracts, essential fatty acids, and anti-oxidants. It is PH balanced especially for dogs and naturally repels fleas and ticks. This stuff is amazing!

 Also, at OLIVINE we sell Antica Farmacista which are lovely, European fragrances that naturally scent the home using reed diffusers. In addition, we have naturally fragranced candles with lead-free wicks.

 Smell and memory are intimately linked as smell influences mood, memory and emotions. So let us inspire happy memories while also bearing in mind the special sensitivities of our best friends.

This full-length comedy stars Moises Arias (Rico on “Hannah Montana”), Jonathan Silverman (“The Single Guy”), Daytime Emmy ® winner Jennifer Finnigan (“The Bold and the Beautiful”), Rhea Perlman (“Cheers”), Joey Fatone (“Dancing with the Stars,” ‘N Sync), Stephen Tobolowsky (“Heroes”),  Oscar Nunez (“The Office”), Eddie Griffin (Undercover Brother) and Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”) in his feature film debut—and introduces Pete The Lizard!  A fresh and funny re-imagination of the hugely popular franchise, Beethoven’s Big Break is jam-packed with more action and laughs than ever before.   Featuring an exciting array of bonus materials, the DVD is priced at $29.98 SRP.

View Clip Here!Billy names Beethoven

Thinking of getting a pet? Think hard.

Houston’s animal shelters and foster homes are filled with pets surrendered by people who made a decision they came to regret. The Houston Humane Society offers five reasons you should not get a pet:

1. Your lifestyle is not set up for a pet. People who travel constantly or work extremely long hours will not usually have time for a pet. Who will care for your pet when you’re away? How long will he be stuck home alone each day? Will you be too tired to take him for a walk after you’ve worked a long day? Do you have time to train him properly?

2. You don’t have enough money to care for a pet. The adoption fee is just the beginning of the financial commitment. Food and vet care are the more significant ongoing costs. There are monthly heartworm medications and flea preventatives, not to mention annual vaccinations and licenses. How will you pay to treat an ear infection? What if your pet gets hurt and requires surgery?

3. You can’t make a longterm commitment. Many pets can live 10, 15, even 20 years. Are you still going to want him when he chews up your favorite pair of shoes? Next time you move, are you willing to limit yourself to someplace your pet’s allowed? If you start a family, are you committed enough to find time for both pets and kids?

4. You have no idea what kind of pet to get. If you haven’t taken the time to do a little research, you probably aren’t prepared for a pet. It’s important to know what breed best fits within your current lifestyle and space. Do you have a big house with a fenced backyard, or do you have a studio apartment? Do you like to take 3-mile walks every day, or do you want a dog who’ll sit on your lap while you watch TV?

5. You just can’t wait to get a pet. Maybe you think your friend’s dog is awfully cute and are dying for one of your own. Maybe you’ve fallen for a pleading pair of eyes and want to take home that particular dog or cat today. If you’re not willing to wait at least a few days for the adoption process required by most shelters and rescue groups, you’re probably acting too impulsively. Take some time to think. There’s a life at stake.

“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, filling an emptiness we don’t even know we have.”
~Thom Jones

Stephanie Bennett

Certified Canine Trainer & Behavior Specialist

Professional Dog Training in Houston, TX

GetAlongLittleDoggie.net

323-573-0727

Never been to a ferret show? Neither have I but I bet it’s a blast!! Merlin and his other Houston compadres (Sophie and Darth) competed in categories such as the Color Class where Darth took 4th place in Black Sable, Passport Required (the ferret must have some foreign blood in them) where Sophie took 4th place, Late Alter Class (for the boys!) and Breeder Class for the girls.

Yes, our boy Merlin won the whole kit-n-kaboodle! And you thought Houston only had NASA, Tex-Mex and the Rockets to be proud of! You rock Merlin!